Borvendég Zsuzsanna: Fabulous Spy Games. How international trade networks with the West developed after 1945 - A Magyarságkutató Intézet Kiadványai 24. (Budapest, 2021)
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION A middle-aged, heavy-set and balding man stepped outside the Duna Hotel. His immaculate grey suit and chow chow brown shoes screamed a source other than the department stores of socialist Budapest. He cast a brief, concerned look around, but his eyes lit up and he cheerfully headed towards Vörösmarty Square. He was adamant he was being watched. Confidence, as it were, could save his life. It was still early, the cool breath of dawn was still lingering in the doorways guarding padlocked shop doors, but the rays of the rising sun were already dancing on the panes of shop windows to dazzle passers-by with their blinding brightness. The man moved to the shady side to pause dreamily in front of the arched windows of a shop. He was staring at the tastefully arranged merchandise, but keen-eyed observers may have spotted the searching glances he shot to keep track of those passing behind him or gazing around the square. Turning around abruptly, he hurried back to the hotel. Two plainclothes officers followed him at a respectful distance. An hour-and-a-half later, he was back on the street, where he slipped into his green Opel Record with a flourish. He tossed his briefcase casually onto the back seat and drove off towards Roosevelt Square. The two plainclothes detectives looked at their watches, but made no move. A black car turned lazily on the street and followed the Opel. A game of cat and mouse. Zig-zagging through the nearby streets of the inner city, the West German car suddenly found itself at the hotel again. The foreigner may have lost his way. Or was he just checking? The car slowed down at the entrance of the hotel and the policemen posted outside may have noticed him nodding to them. He drove on. He had an important meeting scheduled with the vice-chair of the National Technical Development Committee. Smuggling embargoed technologies was a lucrative business indeed, he could make a lot of money. He just had to keep his wits about him, the room was bound to be wired. As old business 7
